associative methods

To: info-dylan@cambridge.apple.com

Subject: associative methods

From: Jonathan Bachrach <Jonathan.Bachrach@ircam.fr>

Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1992 19:55:21 +0100

In Dylan there are a number of method's that take an unlimited number
of arguments and convert to `binary' methods (e.g., = translates to
binary=). Unfortunately, there is no way for a user to define their
own and I'm positive that users are going to want their own. Sure,
one can simulate this conversion, but it is inefficient (i.e., conses
#rest list on heap and is performed at run-time).
One way to make this facility available to users would be to introduce
a new construct such as `define-associative-method' for this facility.
Instead of defining two methods (e.g., = and binary=), one would only
define the binary method and the associative method would be
automatically wrapped around -- all in a very efficient fashion.
There are remaining details to be specified and there is probably
another way to achieve what I want -- any ideas?
-- jonathan bachrach
IRCAM
31, rue Saint-Merri
F75004 Paris, France
011-33-1-44784864
bachrach@ircam.fr